STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY

VOLUME IV

Of the POSSIBILITIES Series

2008

A Publication of People First Wisconsin

PEOPLE FIRST WISCONSIN

Marian Center for Nonprofits 3211 South Lake Drive Milwaukee, WI 53235 (414) 483-2546 (888) 270-5352 fax (414) 483-2568 www.peoplefirstwi.org

Mary Clare Carlson of People First Wisconsin conducted the interviews and wrote the stories of those people featured in this booklet.

Editor: Amy J McGrath

The publication is funded by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) CFDA No. 93.768 Wisconsin Department of Health Services/Pathways to Independence

his is the fourth booklet of the POSSIBILITIES series. The goal of the series is to highlight and celebrate the lives of people with significant disabilities, especially T intellectual disabilities, who are living, learning and working in Wisconsin. Our hope is that these stories will introduce you to the many possibilities that now exist for people with significant disabilities to become active and contributing members of their communities.

The first two booklets in the POSSIBILITIES series feature stories about people with significant disabilities who are building lives in the community outside of institutions. The third booklet and this fourth booklet feature stories that reflect the growing trend of people with significant disabilities working in integrated community employment.

The number of integrated community employment options can be as great as the number of people with significant disabilities seeking employment. The beauty of integrated community employment is that there is never a need to resort to a one-size-fits-all model. These stories are just a sample of the growing number of positive stories about integrated community employment that can be found in Wisconsin. The stories in this booklet reflect the diversity of jobs chosen, the range of work schedules available and the variations on support services needed to successfully employ people with significant disabilities in integrated community jobs.

In the past, support services have not always been available to assist people with significant disabilities to work in integrated community employment. But today Wisconsin is uniquely positioned to support integrated community employment for people with significant disabilities like never before. This is due to the expansion of Family Care, participation in the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG), targeted resources from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the recommended reforms of the DHS (Department of Health Services) Managed Care Employment Task Force.

Whether you are a family member, guardian or caring friend; a staff person from a managed care organization, school or community services provider; or you are a person with significant disabilities, we hope these stories will inspire your own exploration of integrated community employment possibilities. We also hope that you will recognize that neither the severity of disability nor the complexity of support needs should prevent a person with significant disabilities from successfully working in an integrated community job. We hope you will consider employment first.

 2

Jimmy

approached Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) about having them contract with her to help Jimmy find an integrated community job. When helping Jimmy look for work, she remembered all the times that the folks at Bodi’s Bakery had asked about him. She asked the bakery owner, Jane about hiring Jimmy.

Jane hesitated. She liked Jimmy but she couldn’t figure out how she could use Community integration really does pay him. Jimmy does have some challenges. off. That’s how Jimmy found his job! He is blind in one eye and has autism. When Jimmy was attending Wilmot But Marsha was persistent. She kept Union High School, he used to go with going back to the bakery. Over time, other students from the special education Jane began seeing ways that Jimmy department to Bodi’s Bakery in the small could be of help and Jimmy has now town of Twin Lakes. been working at Bodi’s Bakery for two years! Bodi’s is not only well known for their wonderful bakery but also for being a Marsha did some job coaching with warm and welcoming community place. Jimmy in the beginning, but most of his Jimmy really enjoyed chatting with the training came from the bakery staff. If bakery owners and the other people who Jimmy had trouble learning a new task, worked there. And they liked chatting Jane would figure out how he could with him. After Jimmy graduated, he practice and assign homework. Jimmy didn’t go there much anymore. The has a unique way of viewing the world special education classes kept visiting such as remembering the days that he the bakery though. And the folks at the works at the bakery not as Tuesday, bakery always asked about Jimmy and Thursday, and Sunday but as Box day, wanted to know how he was doing. Bread day and Bucket day (corresponding to the tasks performed). Jimmy’s former teacher, Marsha kept up Jimmy is even making contributions to with him through Special Olympics. the workplace. He turned his infamous Jimmy’s parents believed in their son scribbling (in high school he drew and always saw him as someone who smiley faces everywhere) into the could work. Since there aren’t many ‘Smiley Face Cookie’ that is now community service providers in this exclusively available at Bodi’s Bakery. rural part of the state, Marsha 

3 Nate

Making a living as an artist is never an him. His just happens to be his job easy thing. But when you are an artist coach. The weeds, leaves and vines that with significant disabilities (cerebral cannot be removed without affecting palsy, intellectual disabilities, severe their impression on the clay are burned hearing loss and limited speech) the off in the kiln leaving a fossil-like challenge is even greater. Nate has impression in the earthenware which taken on that challenge and is gives Nate’s pottery its distinctive rustic succeeding far beyond anyone’s look. That is where the name of his expectations. business comes from – Nature’s Earthenware. Nate did very well in a high school ceramics class. It gave his father an idea. DVR also helped Nate to develop his As an avid Redwing pottery collector, he promotional materials including a had the radical idea that his son could professional earn a living by making pottery. Nate’s display case that father contacted his friend, Scott, who he can use at the had a pottery studio in Madison to ask art and craft him about working with Nate.

Door Pottery enthusiastically welcomed Nate into their studio. With support from DVR (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation), the studio bathroom was made handicapped accessible and a ramp was added to the building entrance. Scott gave advice to Nate about the best clay to use, allowed Nate to have access shows to exclusive pottery glazes needed to where he coat the pottery and gave advice to his sells his father about developing a business plan. pottery. His father’s Nate uses a manual slab-making support is crucial to the business as well. machine to roll the clay into a smooth slab with the thickness he desires. He Nate has been making and selling his then presses the various leaves, cones, pottery for eight years now. A major vines and weeds that he collects on accomplishment this year was to be nature hikes with his father into the clay invited into his first juried art show with a special hand roller. Then because (where judges determine which artists of his limited mobility, he wraps the clay will show their work). Nature’s around a PVC plastic pipe to create the Earthenware just continues to grow with shape of his vases. Like many artists endless possibilities. Nate has an assistant who works with

 4

Ryean

The state’s Family Care program in also happen to be the first three letters of LaCrosse is beginning to open up his name. opportunities for people to explore creative new options for integrated Ryean has a team of people, led by his community employment. A training mother, who advise and help him with sponsored by Pathways to Independence his business. He and his team spent on micro enterprises did just that for about four months developing his Ryean. promotional materials. To get customers, he advertises as well as sets up agreements with local grocery stores for home deliveries. He works five afternoons a week. Orders are placed by calls to his cell phone which are checked first thing every afternoon by his support staff. He already has some regular customers like one of the local T.V. stations in town. Transportation is provided by his support staff. Since his business is still quite young, he and his

Ryean is a young man in his early 30’s with a winning smile. He is very outgoing and likes to be on the go. He remembers the names of everyone he meets. His autism does challenge him in numerous ways not the least of which is his difficulty with fine motor skills and limited language skills.

Ryean and his mother attended the training on micro enterprises about two team are always making adjustments to years ago. Micro enterprise is simply a the business plan. Recently he got a term used to refer to a small business debit card for his business to cover the where a person with a disability works cost of items that he picks up until he for himself instead of someone else or can get paid at the time of delivery. some other business. Taking into consideration his personality and his As with many new small businesses, likes and dislikes, Ryean created his own Ryean’s is not yet making a profit. But errand and delivery business in LaCrosse he has been able to cover his costs. And called, RYE (Run Your Errands), which he is greatly enjoying the opportunity to meet people and travel around town.

 5 Esther

For some people adaptive technology what appears to be a small shiny dot. can be the key to unlocking the door of This ‘dot’ activates a laser that replaces integrated community employment. It her need for a mouse. The laser allows certainly has been for Esther. her to move the cursor across the computer screen with just a move of her Esther works at United Cerebral Palsy of head. Since her speech is limited as Southeastern Wisconsin (UCP) two days well, the computer has a number of pre- a week as a receptionist. She has recorded messages by a computerized worked there for 13 years. Esther has an voice system on file that can answer ideal personality for such a position but about 90% of the questions a caller due to her significant mobility and would have. Esther listens to the caller speech limitations she never dreamed and then opens the appropriate file and that she would have a chance to work at the computerized voice responds to the such a great job. caller’s question. She can put calls on hold, send them to the appropriate staff’s voice mail or connect them directly to staff when they are available. She can even page staff when they are temporarily away from their desks. On the rare occasion when her phone system cannot answer a caller’s question, Esther can alert a co-worker who can then assist with the call.

As adaptive technologies improve and become even more accessible to people with significant disabilities we can only imagine how many more doors to employment will be opened. The dream for Esther began to become reality when she started training with adaptive technology at Curative in Milwaukee. She learned how to use the technology to assist her in doing certain work tasks. When the job became available at UCP, she applied, interviewed and was hired.

When the phone rings at UCP, Esther answers it with the aid of a computer. This amazing phone system and software was designed by Phone Plus. On the middle bar of her eye glasses is  6 Art

Art is all about integration and adding an additional day to his work community. He is very friendly and is week. known by many people in his Northern Wisconsin community. It’s hard to find anyone at the Black Cat coffee shop in Ashland who doesn’t know him. Art travels with his own coffee mug and takes his coffee with cream and sugar, thank you. His parents have always included Art in their family activities. Art’s mother says that everywhere they go people seem to know her son. He volunteers at numerous community events with the help of his support agency and participates in the advocacy group, People First of the Northwoods. He also attends movies, plays and concerts around town. Art works in his community too. Art has what is known as a Vanguard communication board. His job coach, Art has worked at the M&I Bank in John, says he rarely uses it when he is Ashland for almost 10 years. His job working. At work, Art prefers to use his responsibility is to shred the bank’s eyes, gestures and keen sense of humor confidential papers. When Art’s support to communicate. Those who know Art worker approached the bank about hiring well, say it is amazing how much he can Art, he did not describe any of his communicate with just a look. And by significant intellectual or physical using his physical humor, Art loves disabilities as limitations to his playing jokes on his job coach. There are employment at the bank. In fact, he took a lot of smiles and laughs when working the novel approach of describing Art’s with Art. disabilities as assets to any bank that was looking to provide customers with Art and his job coach, John, have assurances of confidentiality when developed a ritual that they share after handling their private information. Art’s finishing a day’s work. They go out for ten year history of working at the bank is coffee, talk about the Green Bay Packers testimony to the fact that hiring people and other topics of interest. But they with disabilities makes good business always conclude their meeting by sense. offering a toast. The toast can be about most anything, but it almost always With Art’s bank experience, he was able includes a salute to life, community and to privately contract to do shredding for the satisfaction of a job well done. a few other businesses in town thereby  7 Mattie

Mattie’s guardian and friend, Alice, says that Mattie is ‘profoundly inspiring.’ What a difference from the time when the only thing perceived as ‘profound’ about Mattie was her disability! Due to congenital rubella, Mattie was born blind and deaf with intellectual disabilities. She lived with her family until she was 13 years old. She then moved to Central Wisconsin Center.

It wasn’t until Mattie was 15 years old that she had the opportunity to attend a community high school in Madison. This opportunity changed Mattie’s life after that she began working with a dramatically. Her high school teachers support agancy that assists individuals began teaching her tactile sign language. with disabilities in obtaining and They were able to develop a maintaining integrated community communication board with 24 different employment. They convinced a Pizza textures representing 24 items that Hut in South Milwaukee that it would be allowed Mattie to initiate good for business to hire Mattie to come communication for the first time in her in before they opened to fold the pizza life. Many of Mattie’s challenging delivery boxes. Since they would not behaviors decreased as her have to take the time to fold the pizza communication options increased. One delivery boxes, Pizza Hut’s other of her teachers, Alice, not only became employees could make their pizza her advocate but her guardian as well. deliveries even quicker. This job development technique is called While in high school, Mattie received customized employment. Since Mattie is job training at a variety of Madison blind and deaf, she learns with her businesses. She worked at a hotel, three hands, so her job coach taught her by hospitals and the University of using hand-over-hand demonstration. Wisconsin. Her duties in these jobs Job coaches still check in on Mattie ranged from washing and folding towels, every week, but most of her job support collating, stamping and stuffing comes from her co-workers. Mattie has envelopes, to counting and bagging worked at Pizza Hut for 16 years now. medical supplies. A former co-worker of hers commented, As a young adult, Mattie moved to a ‘Mattie makes me smile from the inside group home in Milwaukee. A few years out.’ Mattie is profoundly inspiring.

 8 Dan

A little over ten years ago, Dan was The agency providing employment living at home and spending his days services helped Dan get a job working during the work week at a sheltered two days a week making lamps at Brass workshop. Some people at Light Gallery, Inc. (He the workshop felt Dan’s continues to attend the disabilities were too sheltered workshop the other significant and three days of the week.) Dan challenging for him to grew up helping his father continue receiving fix things around their services there. Some other house. He likes being people, including Dan’s around tools so he quickly family felt differently. As took to the use of the electric it happened, this drills and screwdrivers disagreement brought necessary to assemble the about an opportunity for lamps at Brass Light Dan to try supported Gallery. Dan has been employment. That was working for Brass Light the first of a number of opportunities Gallery for 10 years. Dan loves his that would help change Dan’s life. work and he is also very good at it.

Dan’s family members have always been When Dan began working at Brass Light his greatest support and strongest Gallery he used very little verbal advocates. They’ve often been light communication. Dan wanted to be able years ahead of conventional thinking to speak and he let people know it. He is regarding the provision of services to now attending speech therapy and can, people with disabilities. They’ve used on occasion, use two and three word their energy and passion to advocate not sentences. Like many other people with only for Dan but for changes in the significant disabilities, Dan’s disabilities service system challenging and compulsive behaviors lessened or disappeared entirely after he Their efforts have benefited many began working in the community. people with disabilities throughout the state, especially those with autism. Even with all that Dan has already Their progressive advocacy has resulted accomplished, he remains aware of in big changes for Dan. He now shares a barriers and challenges he has yet to duplex with a roommate and has the conquer, not just for himself but for employment supports necessary for him other people with disabilities as well. to work at an integrated community job.  9 Kris

Since Kris was adopted, she has had two office tasks. Kris had also been doing a fierce advocates: her mother and her lot of volunteering at Cardinal Stritch father. They not only love Kris, they University where her father was a believe in her. Where some see deficits, professor. Her parents began advocating they see capacities. Where some see for the university to hire Kris for an limitations, they see opportunities. And office position. It took awhile, but in sometimes it is that fierce and persistent time she was given the chance to show advocacy fueled by a parent’s love that what she could do. is exactly what is needed to create possibilities for people with significant Kris now works four days a week at the disabilities. This has been true for Kris. university helping with mailings, doing shredding, making copies and delivering mail. Her job began as a work experience through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). A work experience is when DVR pays the salary of a person with a disability for a short amount of time while they work for a business until the employer and the employee agree that the job match is successful. Kris’s employment support agency helped set up the work experience and did some initial job coaching. Now most of Kris’s job Kris has been challenged in her lifetime support comes from her co-workers. by a number of disabilities including They enjoy working with her and see her autism. But time and time again, she has as a valuable member of their team. surprised everyone with her They also recognize Kris’s individuality accomplishments. When Kris reached and allow for Kris to be….Kris. adulthood, she and her parents just expected that getting a job and working in the community would simply be another one of her accomplishments.

Kris had a number of job opportunities but none seemed to be the right fit for her. What did seem to work well was when Kris was helping her mother with her home business doing a variety of

 10 Jacob

All parents have hopes and fears for the watch would help Jacob to know their children as they are growing up. when to leave and arrive at home and at This is no different for work Additionally, the watch parents of children with helped him know when and disabilities. Will they be how long to take his break at happy? Will they be work. Jacob has been working healthy? Will they be successfully at Tinseltown surrounded by people who three days a week for the last care about them? Will two years. they be accepted and valued for who they are? Jacob has met many new Will they be seen as a people through his job at the contributing member of theater. When they are out their community? At this tog moment in time, Jacob’s ethe mother can honestly r, answer yes to all of these questions. his mother is continuously After Jacob graduated from high school, surprised at one of his former teachers, Marsha, the number contracted with the Division of of people she Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to help doesn’t know him find a job. Knowing how much who greet her Jacob loved movies, she thought it son by name would be worthwhile for him to apply at and with a one of the large movie theatres in high-five. Kenosha called Tinseltown. Jacob got The the job. dispatchers for the bus company welcome her calls Marsha knew that being a job coach for and are always willing to help locate Jacob was complicated and would also Jacob when he doesn’t arrive home on require a bit of creativity. In addition to time. Jacob has even charmed a couple having Downs Syndrome, Jacob has a of bus drivers into dropping him off in significant hearing loss that has greatly front of his house instead of at the bus affected his language and reading skills. stop two blocks away. Jacob is a Since Jacob would have to learn how persuasive young man. In sharing his and when to use the city bus to get to own accomplishments, he has been an work, Marsha again turned to DVR to inspiration to some of his friends from fund the purchase of a watch with Special Olympics who now want to adaptive technology features. Even with work in the community too. his limited language and reading skills,

 11 Kelley

Kelley worked for 13 years at a Target her job coach, Debra, helped design store. But over time she felt that her job some accommodations to assist Kelley activities did not allow her to work as in her work. Kelley uses a stand to hold independently as she would have liked. the papers that she needs to look at while The employment services staff who were she types at the computer. She also uses supporting her with her job at Target an accommodation called, ‘sticky keys’ also supported that allows her to Kelley in her perform search for a functions on the new job. Staff computer with understand that one hand, that supported normally require employment a two handed programs need operation. Her to be able to be job coach now responsive to needs only to changes in a check in one day person’s needs a week to see and changes in how Kelley is their career doing. She is goals. All of us proud of her make employment choices, whether we independence and happy with her job. move to a new job, seek a promotion, or choose to stay where we are. Kelley and Kelley does not let her disabilities limit others with disabilities are no different. her personal life either. She lives in an accessible apartment in South Kelley was assisted in finding new Milwaukee that she shares with her employment at the Medical College of husband, both of whom need attendant Wisconsin. Kelley has been working services to provide their personal care. three days a week for the past14 years. Kelley attends programs at the She uses para-transit services to get to Eisenhower Center and is involved in a and from work. Kelley’s job requires number of volunteer activities in the her to use a computer where she verifies community. For Kelley, “community and records information concerning integration” is not simply a value held operations at the hospital. Because by people, nor a philosophy of service Kelley does not have a lot of mobility, provision. It’s how she lives her life!

 12 Jeffery

Jeffery has made his mark on the self- When Jeffery moved, his new living advocacy and self-determination situation offered him more choice and movements in Wisconsin. He works out freedom but his new work situation did not. Working at a sheltered workshop for less than minimum wage did not go over very well with Jeffery. He lasted there only a year.

Figuring out how to support Jeffery in an integrated community job was complicated by his seizures. With severe seizures that cannot be completely controlled through medication, Jeffery was still in need of a constant support staff presence. Even when wearing a protective helmet, he is of the Waisman Center as the Self- Determination Advocate and Client Service Assistant Coordinator in Dane County. He has spoken at local, state and national conferences. He helped create People First Wisconsin. He has received awards for his advocacy work. Jeffery is living his dream. But the road to his dream has not always been an easy one. at risk of significant injury. But another Jeffery lived at Southern Wisconsin excellent employment support agency Center for almost eight years. He got came through for Jeffery and has been providing him with the staff support he into fights with his peers. And he also fought with a system that offered him needs to do his advocacy work in the little choice and little freedom. Jeffery is community. challenged with severe seizures that can When asked about the importance of his not be completely controlled with work, Jeffery said, “Freedom means medication. When the staff from a making choices, taking action, being residential support agency, came to see responsible for my choices and myself Jeffery and offer him a chance to move and being a part of the community.” into his own apartment in Madison and Jeffrey sees his work as helping all be a partner in his own support plan, people with disabilities in Wisconsin to Jeffery jumped at the chance. find freedom.

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This publication was funded by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) CFDA No. 93.768 Wisconsin Department of Health Services/Pathways to Independence